Chapter 43: Traceless Three Blades Perfected

After Zhang Hua made this decision, everyone fell silent.

It was impossible not to want compensation, but openly demanding it would be shameless.

Before coming, they had all volunteered to help—to latch onto Zhang Hua’s powerful influence.

Cao Ye spoke up: “Then it’s settled. Let’s rest.”

The others didn’t dare say this, fearing they might offend Zhang Hua.

But he dared. He was also a top-tier genius, at the peak of Star Cloud, no weaker than Zhang Hua.

As Cao Ye and the others went to rest, Zhang Hua turned his gaze to Ji Ziling and Ying Yanxue: “You two, let’s talk over there.”

Ji Ziling and Ying Yanxue exchanged a glance. Could he have figured it out?

Impossible. They hadn’t given anything away.

Puzzled, the two followed Zhang Hua to the side.

Zhang Hua’s expression turned serious: “You two, even after dealing with the Special Star Demon, it’ll take some time to return.”

“What?” Ji Ziling frowned, inwardly relieved. From his tone, it was clear he didn’t know about their secret.

Zhang Hua said calmly, “Nothing much. I just want to ask both of you to hunt Star Demons at full strength on the way back to make up for the losses.”

Ying Yanxue’s expression turned cold: “Your own mistake, and you want us to compensate for it?”

Ji Ziling also looked furious.

She could tell exactly what he meant—he wanted them to help replenish the lost Star Stones!

As for selling the Special Starstone?

If the Star Stones were replenished, would there even be a need to sell the Special Starstone?

No wonder he had been so generous earlier—it was just to placate Cao Ye and the others, securing the Special Starstone first.

“Calm down, both of you. Zhou Wen is still waiting for you to save her,” Zhang Hua said with a smile, completely unfazed by their anger.

“You…”

Before Ji Ziling could finish, Ying Yanxue pulled her back: “Forget it, Ziling. We’ll settle accounts with him later.”

“Then I’ll trouble you both.”

Zhang Hua smiled slightly and turned to leave.

Settle accounts later?

Once I get the Special Starstone and master that counter-shock skill, why would I fear your reckoning?

By then, I’ll make you understand who the true top genius is!

After witnessing this scene, Jiang Changkong turned and left, heading to search for the bodies of the Star Demon horde.

He worked tirelessly for two hours, finally extracting all the Essence.

This time, it was relatively little—only 4,538 points of Essence.

Since there was still time before the agreed-upon meeting, and the Star Demons hadn’t fully dispersed, Jiang Changkong resumed hunting.

He hunted for another hour, adding to what he had slain during the day.

Total Essence: 6,238 points.

He didn’t rush to enhance himself. Returning near Zhang Hua and the others, it wasn’t long before the Primal Martial Compass vibrated.

Jiang Changkong hid, confirming it was Ji Ziling before emerging.

Ji Ziling asked, “Where are the Star Stones?”

Jiang Changkong dragged out the Star Stones—three backpacks, all full.

“Divide them into three shares: one for you, one for me, and one for Yanxue.”

Ji Ziling added, “Yanxue and I only want the mid-tier and above ones. You can have all the lower-tier ones.”

“How can that be? This was all your effort. I just played a minor role,” Jiang Changkong waved his hand, feeling he had already taken too much advantage.

“No need to be polite with a friend. These first-tier Star Stones are barely worth a breath to us,” Ji Ziling said, toying with a first-order top-grade stellar stone. “You’ve absorbed quite a few Star Stones too, haven’t you?”

Jiang Changkong nodded.

Ji Ziling continued, “When you absorb them, have you noticed that first-tier Star Stones actually provide very little Star Power?”

Jiang Changkong: “…”

I’ve been extracting them directly. After extraction, the Star Stones lose their Star Power. How would I know?

“Bringing these Star Stones back directly is still a bit troublesome, so you can use the ones you can.”

Ji Ziling whispered, “Even if it’s wasteful, we can’t take them all back. These two backpacks can’t be used either.”

“What do you mean by wasteful?” Jiang Changkong rolled his eyes.

“Untreated Star Stones absorb very little Star Power, so of course it’s wasteful.”

Ji Ziling explained, “Star Stone energy contains a lot of impurities. They need to be processed to fully absorb the Star Power.”

Jiang Changkong: “…”

He had never done that before; he always extracted directly.

“Alright, it’s settled then. You take the Star Stones and leave. For the first-tier ones, just absorb a bit and throw them away.”

Ji Ziling said, “Pack the second-tier ones. If they don’t fit, throw away the low-grade second-tier ones too. Then, you leave with the Star Stones.”

“Leave?” Jiang Changkong frowned.

“Yes, they’ve been squeezed dry now.”

Ji Ziling stroked her chin and said, “Zhang Hua won’t give up on the Special Star Demon, and you can’t get involved in what’s left. Leave early.”

Jiang Changkong opened his mouth to say something, but Ji Ziling didn’t give him the chance and turned to leave.

Looking at the three backpacks, fine, I’ll take advantage of this.

But I shouldn’t take too much advantage. The ones above mid-level Star Cloud definitely won’t fill the backpacks.

I’ll help fill them up, treating it as a trade.

Taking stock of the backpacks, one backpack could hold over a hundred Star Stones. Three backpacks meant over four hundred.

Among them, 283 were at peak stellar qi, and 156 were at early-stage Star Cloud.

Six were at Star Cloud Peak, and the rest were also at Star Cloud Peak.

He extracted all the first-tier peak and second-tier early-stage ones, along with the previous “Essence, Qi, and Spirit.”

Total: 17,668!

This was an enormous windfall!

Without hesitation, Jiang Changkong directly upgraded Three Blades Without Trace to perfection.

The rest, he poured into the Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique.

His internal Star Power surged significantly, and his five senses improved noticeably.

A bronze glow shimmered on his skin, his bones made faint cracking sounds, and his minor injuries healed completely.

His strength also increased considerably.

In his mind, he gained some insights into the Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique and Three Blades Without Trace.

This enhanced both his blade techniques and defense.

Jiang Changkong: Star Cloud Peak

Low-Grade Mid-Tier Martial Arts:

Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique: Great Accomplishment 12,020/16,000

Tai Chi Fist Scripture: Great Accomplishment 1/16,000

Three Blades Without Trace: Perfection 1/64,000

Essence, Qi, and Spirit: 0

As Three Blades Without Trace improved, his insights increased, as if he had practiced the blade countless times.

In his mind, trajectories constantly appeared—the paths for executing Three Blades Without Trace.

It became increasingly silent and elusive, like an antelope hanging its horns—leaving no trace.

His insights into the Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique were much fewer. This martial art focused solely on body refinement, enhancing defense and strength.

Clenching his fist, Jiang Changkong was confident that if he faced a super top student at Star Cloud Peak again, he could dominate them.

“As for going back? How could I do that?”

Jiang Changkong was unwilling to return just like that. Now was a great opportunity to earn Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

If Zhang Hua was unwilling to give up on the Special Star Demon, then under temptation, another battle was likely.

If he hunted Star Demons daily and gained a bit more, achieving perfection in the Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique was certain.

Then, his Three Blades Without Trace could also become stronger.

Scamming Zhang Hua wasn’t the end of it.

He had some thoughts about that Special Star Demon as well.

After all, he had already taken down a super genius. As long as he hid well and obtained another Special Starstone, it shouldn’t be a big deal, right?

His Three Blades Without Trace could also be improved further. Even if he couldn’t achieve complete perfection, he would still be able to suppress a super genius.

After upgrading the Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique, he would continue to focus on Three Blades Without Trace.

Jiang Changkong pondered that only by further upgrading Three Blades Without Trace and combining it with the perfected Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique could he perfectly realize his plan.

After packing up his backpack, Jiang Changkong moved to another spot to rest.

Since he had made up his mind, he would conceal himself—preferably without even Ji Ziling knowing.